Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Turnham earns prestigious ATHENA Award
9/17/2020 11:00:00 AM | General
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee Senior Associate AD and Senior Women's Administrator Diane Turnham was recognized Wednesday at the Rutherford ATHENA International Leadership Awards, held at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.
Turnham was given the 2020 ATHENA Award, which recognizes an individual who excels in her profession, gives back to the community and helps develop other leaders, especially women.
She has long been an advocate for advancing women's sports. In her 38-year career at MT, she's served in a variety of roles, including as an assistant women's basketball coach, the first full-time head volleyball coach in program history, assistant athletic director of compliance and interim athletic director on two occasions. The Blue Raider Hall of Fame member (inducted in 2012) was promoted to her current position as senior associate athletic director in 2014, where she oversees women's sports and serves as the deputy Title XI coordinator, in addition to other duties.
Her work advocating for scholarships, access and parity in women's sports was recognized by the ATHENA Awards committee.
"I never dreamed that there would be issues with these necessary elements to support a college athletic team," she said at the awards ceremony. "I was one of two female coaches at the time, and if I did not fight for these ladies, who would? I developed a fierce desire to fight for everything our women's programs needed to succeed. That's when I realized I would become an athletic administrator and change opportunities for our female athletes at MTSU.
"If you walk into my office you see a wall filled with pictures of former athletes. Why? Because they tell the story of my life. If you invest in people, they will invest in you and themselves. They have all shaped my life and my profession in some wonderful ways."
Turnham completed a five-year stint on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee this past season. She served as its chair for the 2019-20 season.
She also served as the chair of the Sun Belt Conference's Senior Women's Administrators and as a member of the league's executive staff committee until 2008. Additionally, Turnham served as a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee from 2004-08 and was chair of that committee for the 2008 season. She was also on the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee from 2009-12, serving as chair for her last two years.
The ATHENA Award is just the latest recognition for Turnham. She earned the Tempest Award, given annually to honor an individual in Middle Tennessee who has acted to address the systemic barriers to equity for women and girls and thereby has contributed to the mission of the American Association of University Women, and the 2010 King Hampton Award, presented to the Middle Tennessee employee who makes significant contributions to improve the status of women on campus. She was also voted Middle Tennessee's employee of the year for 2001-02.
Turnham was given the 2020 ATHENA Award, which recognizes an individual who excels in her profession, gives back to the community and helps develop other leaders, especially women.
She has long been an advocate for advancing women's sports. In her 38-year career at MT, she's served in a variety of roles, including as an assistant women's basketball coach, the first full-time head volleyball coach in program history, assistant athletic director of compliance and interim athletic director on two occasions. The Blue Raider Hall of Fame member (inducted in 2012) was promoted to her current position as senior associate athletic director in 2014, where she oversees women's sports and serves as the deputy Title XI coordinator, in addition to other duties.
Her work advocating for scholarships, access and parity in women's sports was recognized by the ATHENA Awards committee.
"I never dreamed that there would be issues with these necessary elements to support a college athletic team," she said at the awards ceremony. "I was one of two female coaches at the time, and if I did not fight for these ladies, who would? I developed a fierce desire to fight for everything our women's programs needed to succeed. That's when I realized I would become an athletic administrator and change opportunities for our female athletes at MTSU.
"If you walk into my office you see a wall filled with pictures of former athletes. Why? Because they tell the story of my life. If you invest in people, they will invest in you and themselves. They have all shaped my life and my profession in some wonderful ways."
Turnham completed a five-year stint on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee this past season. She served as its chair for the 2019-20 season.
She also served as the chair of the Sun Belt Conference's Senior Women's Administrators and as a member of the league's executive staff committee until 2008. Additionally, Turnham served as a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee from 2004-08 and was chair of that committee for the 2008 season. She was also on the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee from 2009-12, serving as chair for her last two years.
The ATHENA Award is just the latest recognition for Turnham. She earned the Tempest Award, given annually to honor an individual in Middle Tennessee who has acted to address the systemic barriers to equity for women and girls and thereby has contributed to the mission of the American Association of University Women, and the 2010 King Hampton Award, presented to the Middle Tennessee employee who makes significant contributions to improve the status of women on campus. She was also voted Middle Tennessee's employee of the year for 2001-02.
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